Oxime-functionalized anti-insecticide fabric reduces insecticide exposure through dermal and nasal routes, and prevents insecticide-induced neuromuscular-dysfunction and mortality

Farmers from South Asian countries spray insecticides without protective gear, which leads to insecticide exposure through dermal and nasal routes. Acetylcholinesterase plays a crucial role in controlling neuromuscular function. Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase, which leads to severe neuronal/cognitive dysfunction, breathing disorders, loss of endurance, and death. To address this issue, an Oxime-fabric is developed by covalently attaching silyl-pralidoxime to the cellulose of the fabric. The Oxime-fabric, when stitched as a bodysuit and facemask, efficiently deactivates insecticides (organophosphates and carbamates) upon contact, preventing exposure. The Oxime-fabric prevents insecticide-induced neuronal damage, neuro-muscular dysfunction, and loss of endurance. Furthermore, we observe a 100% survival rate in rats when repeatedly exposed to organophosphate-insecticide through the Oxime-fabric, while no survival is seen when organophosphate-insecticide applied directly or through normal fabric. The Oxime-fabric is washable and reusable for at least 50 cycles, providing an affordable solution to prevent insecticide-induced toxicity and lethality among farmers.

Approximately, 30% of methyl-parathion was diffused into acceptor chamber, and Hazmat suit fabric could not hydrolyse MPT, hence, could not form para-nitrophenol. Data are mean ± s.d.
(n = 3, from independent experiments).Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Cost analysis of Oxime-fabric PPEs and comparison with commercially available PPEs.
We have done a detailed production cost analysis to manufacture each PPE suit, including bulk scale production of active components, cost for textile processing, and overall production cost, labour cost, and tentative pricing of the final product.A tentatively proposed price for Oxime-Fabric PPE is calculated as USD 18 for each suit.Thus far, we have already completed the production of 1000 scale Oxime-Fabric PPEs.The cost provided is based on 1000 suitscale production, which could be even reduced further when scale reaches >100,000 suits.
In Supplementary Table S1, a detailed cost comparison has been provided.Prices of various PPEs from the USA, UK, Singapore, and Australia were given.Interestingly, none of the existing PPEs can chemically deactivate pesticides.They are disposable physical barrier suits.Depending on the type of crops used and farming seasons, these suits will be used an average of 60 to 90 times, annually.Therefore, given the nature of the reusability of Oxime-Fabric PPEs, either only one or a maximum of two suits will be sufficient for a year, whereas except for two commercial PPE kits, the rest of them are non-reusable/disposable PPEs.
Hence, the annual budget for these PPEs was calculated accordingly.This analysis suggests the cost-economic nature and affordability of Oxime-Fabric PPEs.
experiments).P values were determined by ordinary one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc analysis by GraphPad PRISM 9, and exact P values are indicated.ns = not significant.Source data are provided as a Source Data file.Supplementary Figure S6.Oxime-fabric deactivates commercial insecticide formulations, and prevents AChE inhibition, ex vivo.a, Photograph image of commercial formulations used in this study.b, The efficacy of Oxime-fabric to prevent commercial insecticide formulations-induced AChE inhibition, an ex vivo assay was performed using rat blood.AChE containing rat blood was placed in the acceptor chamber.In the donor chamber, various insecticides such as carbamate (c), MPT (d), Macacid-50 (e), Aalphos (f), Raise-505 (g), and Profex Super (h) were added in the presence of normal fabric or Hazmat suit fabric or Oxime-fabric.Active AChE was measured in unexposed native blood and 3 hr post addition of pesticide formulations in these groups.The normal fabric and Hazmat suit fabric could not prevent diffusion of commercial pesticide formulations into the acceptor chamber, which resulted in significant inhibition of AChE activity.On the contrary, Oxime-fabric could hydrolyze carbamate and insecticides in commercial formulations before they diffuse, hence prevented the insecticide-induced inhibition of AChE.Data are mean ± s.d.(n = 4, from independent experiments).For c-h, P values were determined by ordinary one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc analysis by GraphPad PRISM 9, and exact P values are indicated.ns = not significant.Source data are provided as a Source Data file.couldnot hydrolyze MPT to generate para-nitrophenol, whereas Oxime-fabric quantitatively hydrolyzed to prevent the penetration of toxic MPT into the acceptor chamber.Hazmat suit fabric provided moderate barrier function, but could not prevent pesticide diffusion.